Mother’s Day is a time of the year when we think about special women who have touched our lives...mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, teachers, mentors, friends and many others.

This year for Mother’s Day, you can honor a special woman in your life and support women and girls in your community forever by making a gift to the Women’s Fund at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa.

THE WOMEN’S FUNDThe Women’s Fund is a permanent endowment fund established within the Community Foundation. Grants from the fund support projects and programs benefitting Cedar Valley women and girls.

Past recipients of Women’s Fund grants include: Hawkeye Community College Metro Center’s Family Literacy Program, Angel House, Boys & Girls Club, House of Hope, Beyond Pink TEAM, Family & Children’s Council, Quakerdale, YWCA, and Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois.

WOMEN’S FUND CHALLENGEIn 2010, the Community Foundation received a $50,000 challenge gift for its Women’s Fund from an anonymous donor. As a result, we kicked off the Women’s Fund Challenge last fall to raise an additional $50,000.

As of April 1, 2011, we received $28,096.41 in new donations to the

Women’s Fund for a total of $56,192.82 raised with the match. We’re over halfway there! All donations to the Women’s Fund will still be matched for a limited time up to $50,000.

25% STATE TAX CREDIT OPPORTUNITYAdditionally, because the Women’s Fund is endowed at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, a qualified Iowa community foundation, donors are eligible to receive a 25% state tax credit through Endow Iowa for their gift, in addition to the normal federal deductions for charitable giving.

HONORING A SPECIAL WOMANAs mentioned above, the Community Foundation is giving you the chance to honor a special woman in your life this Mother’s Day.

Donate on behalf of another woman, and we will send her a special card announcing your gift in her honor (or to a family member for memorial gifts).

HOW TO GIVEGifts can be made online atwww.cfneia.org. Or, checks can be made out to “Community Foundation-Women’s Fund” and sent to:

Community Foundationof Northeast IowaWomen’s FundPO Box 1176Waterloo, IA 50704

If you choose to honor a special woman with your gift, please include with your donation the honoree’s name and the address where we can send a card.

For memorial gifts, you are welcome to include a name and address of a family member who should receive the card.

For more information, contact Ali Parrish at (319) 287-9106.

Honor a Special Woman this Mother’s DayMaking a gift to the Women’s Fund will support local women and girls...forever.

APRIL 2011

Non-Profit US Postage Paid

Waterloo, IAPermit #707

Women in PhilanthropyCommunity Foundation of Northeast Iowa425 Cedar Street, Suite 310PO Box 1176 w Waterloo, IA 50704www.cfneia.org

Return service requested

I would like to make a gift to the WOMEN’S FUND ENDOWMENT.

I would like to make a gift to the BLACK HAWK COUNTY GENERAL COMMUNITY FUND.

I would like to learn more about the Foundation and other giving options (e.g. stock gifts). PLEASE CONTACT ME.

Please mail this form with your donation to PO BOX 1176, WATERLOO, IA 50704.

Unique Giving Opportunity - 25% State Tax Credit!Gifts to the Women’s Fund and all other permanent endowment funds at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa are eligible.

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Name:

Address: City, State, Zip:

Phone: Email:

Donation Amount: $ Please make check payable to name of fund.

*Gifts to endowment funds at the Community Foundation are eligible for a 25% state tax credit. Call us at (319) 287-9106 for more information.

Please DONATE to the Women’s Fund to support women & girls in the Cedar Valley.Online at www.cfneia.org or fill out the form below:

For ever.

o

For god .

FOUNDATIONCOMMUNITY

of Northeast IowaEstablished in Waterloo/Cedar Falls in 1956

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INSPIRE.Women in Philanthropy inspires women to utilize their VALUES, VISION, and VOICE to empower others.

I would like to make a gift to the INCREASE THE IMPACT fund to add to the Women’s Fund grant.

“I gave to the Women’s Fund in honor of my

mother, Vera Giertz. She has always inspired me to

take care of others and has set a wonderful example

throughout her life. Giving to the Women’s Fund was the perfect way to honor her...and she loved the card!”

~ Deb Staack

What is Women in Philanthropy?

Women in Philanthropy (WIP) is a program developed by the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa to promote the intellectual and economic growth of women in today’s culture.

The mission of WIP is to educate and inspire women to become leaders in philanthropy and use philanthropy to empower others.

Guest speakers facilitate discussions on local charitable causes affecting women and girls, personal estate planning and the power of giving at our quarterly WIP luncheons. The WIP members also support the Women’s Fund and recommend the grants from the fund each year.

Becoming a WIP Member

Women in Philanthropy membership is open to all women interested in making philanthropy fun. Annual dues of $100 ($80 of which is tax deductible) are billed in November and used to cover meeting expenses. Unused dues are transferred to the Women’s Fund endowment.

To join the Community Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy group or to get more information, call (319) 287-9106. v

The Importance of Investing in WomenWIP members welcome local nonprofit panelists to Beaver Hills Country Club

On April 12, Women in Philanthropy members welcomed a panel facilitated by Dayna Ballantyne, Executive Director of the Iowa Women’s Foundation, to their spring

luncheon hosted by Jan Bittner at Beaver Hills Country Club in Cedar Falls. Dayna led a discussion about the importance of investing in women, particularly in your local community.

The panel was comprised of representatives from nonprofit agencies serving Black Hawk County including: Cindy Mohr, Executive Director of the YWCA; Kaye Englin, Vice President of Advancement and Church Relations for Lutheran Services in Iowa; and Barb Grant, Executive Director of Operation Threshold.

Dayna shared some thoughts about the importance of investing in women:

• Women are half of the earth’s population and over half the population of Iowa.

• Women take care of families and communities.

• Women know how to utilize money, resources and ideas with wisdom and creativity to make better choices for themselves and others.

“I’ve seen firsthand that investing through women’s funds is a smart decision that leads to big changes,” Dayna said.

“Investing” implies the growth and return of capital: for example, when you invest in the stock market, you hope to receive more money than what you put in by the time you close your investment. When you invest in the education of your children, you give them better opportunities for the future; if you invest in a house, you receive security, since you will have a place to live forever.

When we invest in women, there are two kinds of gains: the primary gain and the secondary gain.

For example, when a woman is educated about health care, she will go to the doctor regularly during a pregnancy. As a result, she will have fewer complications and she will deliver her baby in safer conditions for herself and the child. Furthermore, the community will not have to use any additional resources to care for the mother or the child, which would be the case if complications had arisen during pregnancy or childbirth. The primary gain is for the woman, the baby and her family; the secondary gain is for the health care system and society.

Kaye Englin of Lutheran Services in Iowa reported a rise in mental health issues in women in Black Hawk County, an alarming 43% of births are out of wedlock, a rise in poverty issues, and an increased need for food, clothing, and other donated goods in 2010. The time to invest in women in our local community is now. v

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Join Women in Philanthropy!

Dayna BallantyneExecutive Director of theIowa Women’s Foundation

Patricia Achey-CuttsPat Allen

Joyce BarbattiPauline BarrettBerdena BeachMarlene BehnStacey BentleyJanice Bittner

Margaret BradfordJudith BurfeindMary Ann Burk

Patricia ChristensenStephanie Clohesy

Joyce CoilDiane CurtisJodi DeeryJoan Duea

Uyntha DuncanDawn Duven

Ann F. EnderleinErica Feldick

Dr. Judith FinkelsteinMindy GressMonica Haag

Jean HallDonna HarmanSusie Heaton

Theresa HoffmanJoni Hollen

Bonnie HumbleTerri JacksonKay Jenkins

Jennifer Jones RuizSharon Juon

Jeri Jenner KarrBobbi Kazenelson

Beth KnippJodi Landau

Margaret (Margie) LanglasSue Loveall

Mary Ellen MolinaroBecky MuddNancy Nora

Maureen OatesChris Olds

Alison ParrishStacy Paul

Ginger PenalunaGerri PerreaultDorothy Plager

Lisa RolingerArdy Rydell

Nancy ShireyNancy Showers

Lynn SmithAndrea Sparks

Deb StaackCarolynn Sween

Jan TaylorKay ThuesenJan Van Note

Marilyn VoorheesTerri Walker

Carol WilliamsKaty Williams

Liz WuertzPhyllis Zager

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WIPMembers

SUMMER LUNCHEONThe next WIP luncheon will be in late June. Visit us at www.cfneia.org for more information coming soon!

BE OUR GUEST!If you would like to attend our summer luncheon as a guest, we would love to have you!

Please contact the Community Foundation office at (319) 287-9106 for information.

Women in Philanthropy members and guests learn about the importance of investing in women in the local community.

Giving Back and Staying InvolvedDonor-Advised Funds: A simple, rewarding, highly personal approach to givingCommunity foundations can help individuals and families establish a lasting legacy by creating a permanent charitable fund in their names.

Establishing a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa provides donors the opportunity to stay actively involved in suggesting uses for their fund for years to come, while providing an immediate tax deduction in the year their gift is made.

Through a donor-advised fund, the donor can recommend distributions from their fund to their favorite charities. They can even actively share their community values with their children by involving them in the distribution process.

As donors begin to give while they live and give earlier in life, philanthropy is no longer something solely left to a bequest or until retirement. Younger philanthropic families may be pressed for time caring for young children, establishing careers, or earning degrees.

“With a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation, there’s less responsibility on the family to meet regularly, or do paperwork,” says Burk. “They can do grantmaking more freely.”

Many community foundations are expanding their offerings to assist families in their grantmaking.

“Our work with donors who have donor advised funds is as comprehensive as our donors would like it to be,” explains Burk. “We help donors with all aspects of philanthropic planning. We help families conceptualize a long-term plan.”

Because much of the administrative heavy lifting is handled by the community foundation, donors are free to be as philanthropically engaged as their family circumstances permit.

For more information about establishing a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation, contact Mary Ann Burk or Ali Parrish at (319) 287-9016. v